Italian 261
Spring 2014
Claudio Mazzola
TTH 12:30-2:20/F 12:30-1:20 or 1:30-2:20
5 credits (VLPA)
Conducted in English
Rome, city of empire, city of ruins. Venice, city of song and romance. Florence, city of art. Milan, city of fashion. Naples, city of sea, spaghetti, and Sophia Loren. Culture in these urban centers manifests itself in the highest human achievements and the unstudied rhythms of everyday life. From the art of Michelangelo to the rituals of a midday meal, these cities offer rich and varied feasts. This course will link the complex histories and contemporary cultures of the five fabled cities, from the Middle Ages to the present. Using a variety of media, students will explore how Italians and foreigners have imagined each of these cities in art, literature, and cinema, and how Italians experience them today.